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Course:
MARY AFST 552: Moral Teachings and Practices of
African Traditional Religion
Course overview:
This course is designed to introduce and guide
reflection on morality and ethics from the perspective of African
religion.
Course description:
The course is intended for pastoral agents with a background in theology
and some experience of African cultures. It will start with an
introduction to the development of African moral theology, up to the
present time. Then it will investigate several moral themes in the
forefront of the contemporary African scene: sexuality (with particular
reference to AIDS); death and dying (with particular reference to
HEALING); inter-tribal/ethnic relations (with particular reference to
VIOLENCE). All of these will be considered in the context of trying to
understand what sin and salvation are from the African viewpoint and,
how this understanding of morality continues to influence (ethically)
peoples' lives in contemporary Africa.
Course Outline:
1) Introduction
a) ATR as a world religion
b) Problems of studying moral teachings and practice of African religion
2)
The African Ethical Community
a) The African understanding of community.
b) The individual and the community.
c) The ethical dimension of community.
3)
African worldview
a) Connectedness between humanity and creation
b) The visible world as the theatre of morality
c)
Ethical responsibility for humanity in the universe
4)
Moral formation
a) The focus on moral formation in African worldview.
b) Contents and agents of moral formation.
c) Virtues and vices.
5)
Sources of moral formation
a)
Significance of creation myths, folktales and proverbs in moral
formation
b) Other sources of moral formation
6)
Foundations of African Ethics: God
a) African understanding of God
b) Moral attributes of God
c) The demands of God on humanity
7)
Ancestors and morality
a)
African understanding of ancestors
b) Moral attributes of ancestors
c)
The demands of ancestors on humanity
8)
Rites of passage: Conception, birth and naming
a)
Pregnancy taboos
b) Birth as an introduction into human community
c)
Moral significance of names
9)
The rites of initiation
a)
Forms of initiation
b) Moral education during initiation
c)
Sex education during initiation
d)
Moral standards expected of initiates
10)
Marriage and sexuality
a)
Marriage as a fulfillment of human social and religious life
b) Moral significance of bridewealth
c)
sexual standards and taboos
11)
Forms of marriage
a)
Different forms of marriage in Africa
b) Value behind different forms of marriage
c)
Separation and divorce
12)
Elderhood
a)
Moral qualities of elders
b) African attitude towards elderly people
c)
The elderly in the contemporary African society
13)
Death
a)
Death as the passage to ancestorship
b) The significance of funeral ceremonies
c)
Taboos observed at death and mourning period.
14)
Wrong doing
a)
Wrong doing as contravention of moral code
b)
Witches, sorcerers, murderers, etc as evil doers
c)
Wrong doers as enemies of life
15)
Justice and morality
a)
Supernatural forms of punishment in African society
b) Social forms of punishment
c)
Law and order
16)
Healing and divination
a)
Methods of healing
b) The role of diviners, medicine people in restoring broken
relationship between the natural and supernatural world.
17)
Spirituality of African religion
a)
Interaction and participation between the diviner and the human through
Prayer, sacrifice, oath taking, etc
18)
Economic and political ethics
a)
Wealth in African traditional society
b) Hard work as a moral obligation
c)
Moral qualities of leaders
d)
The leader and the community
19)
Environmental ethics
a)
Relationship between God, human beings and nature
b) The African respect for creation
c)
The role of African religion in environmental preservation
20)
Peace in African tradition
a)
Principles and traditions of peace making
b) Maintenance of peace as ethical norm
c)
Building a culture of peace
21)
Changing morals in Africa
a)
The impact of Christianity and Islam on African culture
b) Factors affecting African moral and ethical values
22)
Moral and ethical problems in contemporary Africa
a)
Moral problems in contemporary Africa
b) Child abuse and neglect
c)
Ethnicity
d)
corruption, etc.
23)
Restoring moral formation in Africa
a)
The role of social and religious institutions in the restoration of African
morals
b) Moral formation and African traditional values
c)
Recommendations
Required Reading
Gyekye, K. (1996). African Cultural values: An Introduction.
Philadelphia: Sankofa Publishing Company.
Kirwen, Michael. (1987). The Missionary and the Diviner. New York:
Orbis.
Magesa, Laurenti. (1997). African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life.
New
York: Orbis.
Ricoeur, Paul. (1967). The Symbolism of Evil. New York:
Harper & Row.
Shorter, Aylward. (1985). Jesus and the Witchdoctor. London: Geoffrey
Chapman.
SELECTED BOOKS
Bujo, B. (1992). African Theology in its Social Context. New
York: Orbis.
Christensen, T. G. (1990). An African Tree of Life.
New York: Orbis.
Getui, M & Theuri, M.M. (Eds.) (2002). Quests fro
Abundant Life in Africa. Nairobi: Acton.
Haar, G. T. (1992). Spirit of Africa: The Healing
ministry of Archbishop Milingo of Zambia. Trenton: African World
Press.
Kayongo-Male, D & Onyango, P. (1984). Sociology
of the African Family. London: Longman
Kenyatta, J. (1978). Facing Mount Kenya. (1938
Reprint). Nairobi: Heinemann.
Kung, H. (1991). Eternal Life?: Life After Death as
Medical, Philosophical and Theological problem. Reprint. New York:
Crossroad.
Mair, L. (1969). Witchcraft. London: World University
Library.
Mbiti, J.S. (1975). Concepts of God in Africa. London:
S.P.C.K.
______. (1969). African Religions and
Philosophy. London: Heinemann.
McVeigh, M. J. (1974). God in Africa: Conceptions of God
in an African Traditional Religion and Christianity. Cape Cod: Claude
Stark.
Mugambi, J.N.K. & Nasimiyu-Wasike, A. (Eds). (1992).
Moral and Ethical Issues in African Christianity: Exploratory essays
in moral theology. Nairobi: Initiative Publishers
Mugambi, J.N.K. & Kirima, N. (1979). The African
religious Heritage. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
Mwangi, R. (1982). Kikuyu Folk Tales. Nairobi:
Kenya Literature Bureau.
Ndeti, K. (1972). Elements of Akamba Life. Nairobi:
East African Publishing House.
Rosny, E. (1985). Healers in the Night.
Reprint. New York: Orbis.
Snell, G. S. (1954). Nandi Customary Law. Nairobi:
Kenya LIterature Bureau.
Waruta, D. W. (Ed.) (1995). Caring and sharing:
Pastoral counseling in the African perspective. Nairobi: Uzima
Press.
ATTN: This course can substitute for the
course on African Traditional Religion: Major beliefs, Practices and
Contemporary Forms, a required course for students registered in the
Master degree programs.
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